Human serum activities against Hemophilus influenzae, type b

Humoral immunity to Hemophilus influenzae, type b was studied in normal human adults by means of assays for serum bactericidal and opsonizing activities against the organism and for passive hemagglutinating activity using erythrocytes sensitized with polyribophosphate, the type-specific capsular antigen. Hemagglutinating activity was detectable in about 60% of the 114 sera tested. Serum bactericidal and opsonizing activities were found in all sera tested; the levels in some sera, however, were quite low. The antibacterial activities were due not only to antibodies directed against the polyribophosphate capsule but also to antibodies that appear to be directed against somatic antigens. Type b strains differed in their susceptibility to the antisomatic antibodies of particular sera but were uniformly sensitive to anticapsular antibody.